Androgyny and Futuristic Fashion Light up London

Futuristic designs, bright colors, sequins and androgynous styles dominated the catwalks at London Fashion Week Tuesday, with designers drawing inspiration for their creations from literature, paintings and even their own husbands' wardrobes.

Serbian-born designer Roksanda Ilincic experimented with androgyny in her turquoise, burgundy, navy and ivory autumn/winter 2012 collection, which featured oversized jackets, loosely tailored trousers and baggy hooded sweatshirts tucked into tightly fitting skirts.



"My inspiration came from leisurewear, weekend wear, countryside wear so all the kinds of pieces of our wardrobe that are kind of somewhere hidden," Ilincic told Reuters after her show in west London.

Menswear also provided inspiration for the fur, woven and ribbed jersey designs she sent down the catwalk, its influence most evident in a gold and navy flecked suit with navy panel quilted sleeves, a patched elbow brown blazer and red dungarees.

"It is a little bit about women rebelling at having to look immaculate all the time and wanting to become more free like a man. You know Katharine Hepburn with the trousers and man's jacket so it kind of started like that," the designer whose creations have been worn by U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama and Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, said.

Ilincic, who said one of her husband's patterns had inspired her, offset menswear-influenced elements with feminine touches like embroidery on silk, a revealing half-turquoise, half-navy maxi dress with an asymmetric open back and red tops and dresses embellished with intricate black sequins and beading.

(Reuters)